Please do what you can to keep this post close to the first page all weekend. Thanks

Heads up to those headed to Fork, not only this weekend but anytime. PLEASE Watch out for Boaters NEW to the lake that might be IDLING in the middle of the Boat Lanes, ESPECIALLY BEFORE DAYLIGHT. That little stinking light in the back ain't much of a light to me and the one on the front might be hidden by the Trolling Motor Mount at some angles!

It sounds like there may be 1500 + boats on the water this weekend hauling it and making runs to their spots in the dark. Others might just be idling slow. I have seen them in line with the buoys and on the tree line & have often wondered if anyone ELSE HAD ENCOUNTERED THIS!

The only advice I can come up with is:
DON'T IDLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOAT LANE IN THE DARK!


People that know the lake and run the lanes (spotlight or not) are not likely to be able to see you! Mentioned simply, to Save A Life!

Winds are now predicted to be 20-30 MPH plus at times.
BE SAFE AND GODSPEED to everyone...

kinda like driving faster than you can see....

could be a floater , or broke down boat, or someone minding their own business idling along..

Good post.

Question for the Fork regulars.

Whats the best way to come off plane when running a major boat lane when you have boats following you? I usually look back to make sure there aren't any boats behind me before I come off plane and have found myself passing where I truely wanted to stop because I was afraid to come off plane.

I had someone run over the back of my boat several years ago running the river on Caddo. I wouldn't want it to happen to anyone. I was lucky he saw me in time to turn the wheel and missed my motor but went over my transom and over about half of the passenger side of my boat. It would killed anyone that would have been in the passenger seat. Luckily, on my Basscat Jaquire, the seat was offset to the drivers side! Be safe and slow down slowly and give the other boats some kind of signal!

Be safe out there everyone!

Just apply sailing rules to fishing. Problem solved.

Can't wait to yell "STARBOARD" at the first person I can and then drag them to a protest commitee....

I honestly wonder how many boat owners have ever seen or read a Chapman's navigation manual. I'd hope people who run and fish in the ICW do.

I'll see you on the two whistle.

(pretty sure nobody will know wtf I'm talking about)

This is a must. be safe on the lake this weekend cause ill be out there. WFO.

There will be some boats swamped with those numbers(boat count & winds at 20-30).

Be safe out there!

This is one reason why I dont fish these tournaments. If I came up on someone idling in boat lane I might cr@p my self they would scare be so bad.

I can't believe anyone would be dumb enough to run the lanes in the dark, even with the boat lane chip. You wouldn't drive your car at freeway speeds in the dark with no lights.

most people can see in the dark , just do not out run your line of sight.

simple and easy

Do most of yall run with spot lights? I have little experience with one but been thinking of getting one when I get my new rig as my night vision isnt what it used to be.

Pros and cons?

A person with 20/20 vision has appx. 20/200 vision after 20 minutes of zero artifical light.That means no light except the moon and stars. If the stern or bow light is on then your vision gets considerably worse. Plus you have about a 30% narrower field of vision in the dark.
I think I'll stay away from freeways and boat lanes where people speed around at night in the dark.

Theres always an IDIOT or 2 out there!!